Willowbank : Helping Hand

Willowbank

by Alan Fennell

Squirrel and Rabbit help the forest friends share food when a drought is compounded by a forest fire, color illustrations

Paperback

Published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[SBC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recall being given this book as a child (probably about 1987). I didn't recall the story, but it was quite a good story, about a squirrel and a rabbit who want to help a hungry field mouse. The mean pine martens have driven the field mice out of the forest as they don't want to share food during the drought. The rabbit and squirrel take the mouse to their village, Willowbank Glade, which is an idyllic location where animals live in peace. Grandfather Pen Badger knows almost everything there is to know and tells them not to be too angry with the pine martens as they are afraid. Just then, they see a fire in the forest and the pine martens come to the village asking for food and a place to live as their homes have been destroyed. The villagers are kind to them, making room for them in their homes, and the pine martens learn a lesson. When the rain comes and the drought ends the pine martens return to their part of the forest but now everybody are friends.